A year later and not much has improved…read more No expo at Navy Pier this year instead we had to pick up our packets at various running stores, which I didn't mind since I was in and out, but every year they said we need some sort of identification and not once was I carded. I even picked up 3 other packets and they didn't even bother to check if I really knew these people. Last year I complained how ugly the blue race shirts were for the 10 milers and this year I ran the 10K so I got a black long sleeve with a silver front, which wasn't too bad but you're telling me the shirt you gave me was a large? Circulations in my arm felt like they were cutting off and it was tight in the chest area. I decided not to exchange size, which I should of because around mile 4 the neck part was irritating me so badly that I had to continuously pull it away from my skin. I ended up with burn like marks on my lower neck area due to the poor sizing and cut of the shirt, which has NEVER happened to be in the 15 race that I've ran with race shirt provided to me. The race started half an hour late, which I didn't mind and I like the 15 minute gap for the 10mi and the 10K it helps alleviate congestion. The course was the same as last year, however, my biggest complaint is there was a split towards the end of the bridge and some of us went to the left while some went to the right, quite a few of us on the left thought we went the wrong way so we started jumping the fence only to find out we were able to connect at the end, but where was the guidance to avoid such mishap? The lakefront path is way too crowded for the amount of runners registered and the race wasn't even sold out. I felt sorry for the elite/fast pace runners who had to weave in and out of people on their way back. I was glad to finish when there weren't too many visitors. By the time I left Navy Pier and runners were still finishing I felt sad for them because you only knew they were runners because of their bibs, the course should of been fenced off so they can be recognized instead of being mixed in with everyone. I felt like no one cared about them anymore because they're at the end of the pack, which is something you should never feel in a race. The medal was a lot smaller than last year but it does spin although I'm still leaning towards last year's better, but they did take into account of identifying 10k finishers with a red ribbon and 10 mile with a blue. The volunteers passing out the ribbons were just handing out the medals instead of making sure the runners got the right color. Great amount of bagel and bananas for finishers. Would of love a water bottle instead of water in a cup. Overall, this has to be least favorite race. I love love love the fact it starts at Navy Pier but the organization of it needs improvement.

This is a great race if you are a local to the area and working your way up from a 5K to 10K. I've…read morerun several races all over the Mid-west so I know what the procedures are for packet pick-up, parking, etc. The only beef I had was that my T-shirt size was too small. I ordered an X-Large and it did not fit me. (sizes run WAY small) They offered packet pick-up in 3 different locations before the race and also on race day to accommodate Chicagoan's busy schedules! As far as parking goes, if you are from Chicago, you should know better than to park at Navy Pier. Parking is too expensive not to mention all the construction they have going on. That's why this city has public transit systems. Yeah, you might have to get up a little earlier but in the end, save the $19 it costs to park (or more!) The weather was perfect for running but definitely on the cold side (40 degrees). I was just grateful it was not down pouring like they said the race was last year. The corral system was a little confusing to the runners but plenty of room to start. Since all the construction was happening on Navy Pier, they have boards up that narrowed the first 1/2 mile. I found it frustrating that people were still walking opposite of thousands of runners who had just started the race. Not good to start your first mile trying to dodge people. However, the reason I give this race 4 stars is because it delivered when it says its on the Lakefront and the best view of the city. They were not lying! Beautiful! Which made me enjoy running for over 6 miles even more because I had something to focus on. Being grateful that I live in such a beautiful city! It is the PERFECT 10K! I would totally run this race again and recommend to friend or co-worker!

Today was a good day to host the 2016 Chicago quarter marathon. This year it was held at the…read moreChicago Bears stadium (Soldier field). Weather conditions were ideal for running under Chicago standards (considering your typical spring in Chicago is a balmy 40 F degrees!) Runners from all levels participated and the course was mostly flat with two or three small hills. It was a timed race with pace markers at every mile. The markers helped gauge your average time of completion which was nice. The views along the Lake Michigan path were beautiful and the calm waters were easy on the eyes. You get picture perfect views of the Chicago skyline coming back north on the route along with views of the old Mc cormick place and Soldier field. Water stations were placed around every mile or two and entertainment was provided by a local high school band with DJ entertainment post race. Some clever signs made by family and friends were fun to look at and helped motivate you along the way. At the end of the race, each participant received a silver medal with the Chicago skyline in the background and race date on a navy blue ribbon. If you want a challenge and are interested in doing longer runs, this marathon is a great way to start.

The worse thing you can do to a seasoned runner with a timed goal, or someone with a goal to…read moreaccomplish this distance, is to have them run more than what they expected. The course was off by a long shot; 7.14 miles! This is one thing that i can't sweep under the rug, and I'm sure it will get fixed next year, because it was mentioned by many of the seasoned runners, which may have made its way to the race director. Other than the course being off; it was marked very well with arrows and cones, and had two water stations placed in great spots along the course. The finish line was stocked with beverages and bananas; and had race supporters with finishers medals upon crossing the finish line. Inside of the finish line area; the race had several trash cans, vendors, and porter pottys inside. As a runner, I rate this race 3 stars out of 5, but due to what it represents, which is the prevention of child abuse in America, i rate it a 4! The race also had a mini Easter egg race for children, with the Easter bunny in attendance. I loved that! Im all for a race that gets the entire family involved, and represents a good cause. Im sure this race will get better with time; it looked more like a race that has been around a couple years vs one that has been around for a while. As for returning in the future I'm sure i will, but it will not be next year.

This was a fun race despite what is said about the location...it's in a neighborhood you might not…read morebe familiar with on the south side but we took the shuttle from Millenium Park and high fives to that- super easy peezy...since there is nothing more stressful that fussing with parking on race morning! The shuttle buses were super easy to get on, no real wait times either to or fro- so that was a great bonus. The course itself was part street, part lakeshore path. If you're a runner in Chicago, you've probably done a dozen races on that path, but luckily, this one is coming from the South Side and it's great to mix things up a bit. This sign had the BEST signs and great spectators and entertainment...even better than Rock N Roll Chicago this year. I got quite a few laughs from this course and really enjoyed my time running the 13.1 Allstate. It was well organized enough to feel "big" but not so big you got frustrated. Very well organized, good vendors/sponsors for race day- and yes, the beers afterwards were totally delicious!

This race has the good and the bad. It is now sponsored by Michelob Ultra instead of Allstate and…read morethey put out a good spread after the race. The area around the race location is kind of sketchy (there is a reason they recommend taking the shuttle), but the location itself is pretty nice. There were plenty of port o potties at the start, but not too many on the course. The course does get tight at spots and there are some holes throughout the course, but it is a more technical course than the spring half (it is out and back, but you do weave through town a little bit). The medals are huge and there is a decent post race party. A nice change from some of the out and back only Lake Front Trail races.

Don't be fooled: it's the Chicago Beer 5K, not the closely named Chicago Bears 5K (which is in…read moreJuly). I love to do these events -as I'm a craft beer enthusiast. I love trying different beers and learning the names and flavor nuances so I can ask for those beers when I go out to eat. This was a great event. It wasn't very big. We ended up meeting some other ladies along the path as we walked to the south end of Grant Park. She said only 400 people were registered, which is considered pretty small by downtown 5K standards. The path was really pretty, mostly along the lakefront. My only feedback is that this happened to fall on the same day as the Walk and Roll Chicago (a cancer charity walk). Therefore, it was a bit chaotic. Both races shared some of the same path.There was a bit of a clogged situation at times, and a runner almost tripped over me. I was walking (nursing an injured ankle) with a 20 lb. "ruck sack" (it's called rucking), so the crowds didn't bother me. It was my first time doing this, so I was taking my time. Hopefully, next year, they will check the calendar of events or change the path to go in the opposite direction of the Walk and Roll. (There was also an event time change due to this conflict but it did not help the overlap. The cancer walk must have gone on for hours. It was wrapping up when we walked back to the car around 1pm or so.) The after party was great. You got a little mug as you finished and could then walk around the little festival and try different beers. There were a lot of great brewers from the city and suburbs and I got to know some new breweries to check out. Loved this event - hoping to make this an annual part of my summer 5K schedule!

About a week before The Morton Arboretum Arbor Day 10K Run I did the Rockdale Ramblin' Run, which…read moreis supposedly the toughest 10K in the Midwest. I'm not fully convinced the title has been appropriately appointed. It could be that I was still sore from the first big run, but I found the Arbor Day 10K to be a bit tougher since it was a lot of low-grade inclines and rolling hills instead of a few big ones here and there. My Achilles tendons were not amused and I ended up having to walk for about 2 songs in my Spotify 11 Minute Mile Playlist. Still, I finished this race in 1:14:06 instead of 1:16:01. I attribute this acceleration to the fact that gravity works in your favor coming down a few of the steeper slopes. Weeeeeee! The course is what makes this worth it. It's absolutely gorgeous and I highly recommend running its sister race, the Fall Color 5K. Your entrance into the race gets you and your car buddies free admission to The Morton Arboretum afterward. I haven't taken them up on this offer yet, but maybe I will after the next race. I think it's a wonderful option. The Post-Race Party is OK. You get a tech shirt from your goody bag but there aren't any medals. They gave out large cartons of water but the food portion consisted of only half a banana and big ass bagels... I burned almost 1,000 calories, can a girl get some cream cheese and a whole banana? ... Nonetheless, all was forgiven when The Hot Sauce Committee took stage and provided the live entertainment for the event. Parking is pretty easy. They've streamlined the process, so you get in and out quickly. I arrived about an hour before the race started and didn't feel rushed.

This is Illinois. The flat Midwest. I don't do hills…read more Apparently, Morton Arboretum didn't get the memo. Hills, inclines, twists and turns. This course definitely challenged my strength and endurance. It was definitely a slow (uphill) and crowded start but typical for any race. Just when I wanted to quit and walk, a cheery volunteer would stick out a hand for a high five and BAM I got my second wind. Water stations were located at the start, mile 1.5, mie 3, and finish. Strollers are not allowed, but I did see 2 pass me by. Damn those fast Lululemon moms! The $33 registration includes free parking and a tech shirt (fits very large! My husband ended up wearing my size small). Finish line. Plenty of water to rehydrate. Whole Foods had a tent set up with bananas and bagels. Athletico had massage tables set up for after race stretching...I did not want to get off the table! Dick Pond also had a tent set up with merchandise for purchase.

I ran the Chicago 10K earlier in the month for the first time. For some reason, I thought the race…read morewould be similar to the Shamrock Shuffle and would go through the downtown area. This race was similiar to the Soldier Field 10 Mile course -it starts in Grant Park and goes along the lakefront path south and then you run back. This course is not as exciting to me -I much prefer to see the sights and sounds of downtown. Despite that, it was a well organized race. There was frequent email communication beforehand, plenty of bathrooms and water stations and, overall, a great event. The packet pick-up was at Fleet Feet in Old Town -they always do a great job keeping the packet pick-up process quick and organized. Plus, I really like the shirt! There was an option to buy additional styles, which was cool. I bought an extra one so I have my finisher shirt and a bonus shirt. Despite not being that into the "plain, back and forth" lakefront course, I would likely do this race again just to mix it up!

Wanna get all glowy and run? Well this is for you!…read more My friends and I decided to run the 5k instead of the 10k and I'm really happy that was the case. The running path was VERY poorly lit, however I do understand that it's a night time run and the point of it is to be a "glow in the dark race" but it's kinda dangerous to do this run because you may end up running into something/someone or get caught in a hole. I'd recommend Firefly choosing a different path to run (that at least has *some* light) and also sending the runners off in waves (maybe like 200 at a time, this would help with the congestion at the beginning of the race). Packet pickup at Universal Sole was very easy. The staff there was super friendly. I love the concept of this race and wouldn't rule it out in the future as long as they make a couple of changes.

First year runs always have hiccups, and Firefly 2012 was no exception. However, for a first year…read morerun, it wasn't that bad at all, and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again in the future. Pre-event packet pick up was great. No expo, just simple stop by Universal Sole for your packet. Pre-race packet pick up seemed to run very quickly. Packets weren't extensive, but still nice. Standard cotton t-shirt, bib, timing chip. The best part were the 3M LED reflective (velcro) strips. I'll be reusing those quite a bit since I tend to do my training runs in pre-dawn hours. Gear check was quick for dropping off, but an extremely long line for retrieving gear. It seemed that they were short of volunteers, or at least didn't put volunteers in the right places. I had a friend watching my bag, so I can't speak as to how secure the gear check was, however I did note that it seems to be a completely open tent, no closed off area. The run itself: The 10K started at 7:30. No waves. Very small and tight starting area. The 5K started at 7:45. Again, no waves, very small and tight starting area. They need to have waves, and a bigger start corral area. Runners were having to navigate around race watchers and tables. A night run is fun, but depending on the course can be dangerous. They didn't need spotlights, but they definitely could have used more soft lights along the race path. The paths themselves were a combination of dirt paths and paved paths around Montrose Harbor lakefront trails. Which are notoriously pock-marked and potholed ridden. It can be dangerous enough in full daylight on foot or on bike. At night, with no lights, people were tripping/falling/face-planting. The paths are also narrow. So congestion was an issue when you came up against a pack of joggers/walkers keeping pace with each other. In a wide line. Blocking the path. (Argh). And some near mishaps with strollers weaving in and out of the crowds, trying to avoid the aforementioned potholes. Hopefully the race organizers will make the appropriate changes for both safety and congestion issues. Post-race: The finish line got too crowded. Again, I think they didn't have enough volunteers for crowd control, or just didn't have volunteers in the right places. Post race "finish bracelet" was one of those plastic bracelets that's supposed to glow in the dark. Nothing fancy. There was a tent handing out goody bags, but the line was extremely long, and didn't appear to be worth it for a bag that was folded flat and didn't appear to contain any alluring goodies. (I'm guessing it was probably coupons/fliers inside.) The race organizers had advertised food trucks for post-race food during the post-race party and costume contest. There were a few food trucks, in addition to the two food vendors that are there all season, and the popsicle bike guys. Unfortunately the food trucks didn't seem prepared for the amount of people, and were running out of food before all the runners were even finished. The DJ for the post-race party was good, entertaining, high energy. The costume contest went by quickly, and offered good prizes. The post-race party definitely seemed to wrap up quickly, whether that was planned, or they just ended early because everyone left. Since the food trucks left after running out of food, and there were no beer tents, or additional food tents, and only a couple of sponsors handing out beverage samples, there wasn't much motivation for runners to stay for an after-race party. The atmosphere was more of runners grabbing their gear, maybe a popsicle, and then just going home for lack of anything better to do. So yeah, ups and downs, pros and cons. But none of the cons were too egregious. All things that can be easily addressed as the event staff gain experience and hopefully take into account any and all feedback they received after this year's race. It's a nice location, so close to the waterfront. Ample parking, at least compared to downtown. And it's a fun theme. Saw some great costumes!

I agree! Great race. Very small, neighboorhood and family oriented! It was my first time this year…read more A cool run down 26th St. in Little Village. The shirt was cool and the whole event, from packet pick-up to the actual race was organized and well executed! I'm a happy camper (or should I say runner?) and I'll be back next year!!

This race continues to grow each year, and with it so has the organization. Much bigger and more…read moreorganized this year. I will continue to support this race as long as I can. Just like other years I thoroughly enjoyed it, plus you get a jarrito with your goodie bag.